Lately our nation’s health care system has been receiving a lot of negative press. Being a young and healthy woman, I had very little experience with our health care system. In December, that all changed when I was rushed to Bellevue’s Overlake hospital with a temperature of 104.2.

After spending nine days in the hospital over two consecutive stays, I felt compelled to write a letter of praise for our local hospital and physicians. The doctors and nurses at Overlake Hospital were amazing and my family and I are truly thankful that we had a world class hospital at our back door. I would like to specifically acknowledge three doctors, Dr. Peter Hashisaki, Dr. Kristin Graham and Dr. Ryan Chew for saving my life. If it wasn’t for their quick thinking and Overlake’s top-of-the-line medical testing, I may not have made it out alive. These three doctors went above and beyond the call of duty, thought outside the box and worked as a cohesive team. Thank you to doctors Hashisaki, Graham and Chew for your tireless work and wonderful bedside manner. Thank you to the City of Bellevue, the board of directors at Overlake Hospital and the physicians and staff who have worked hard to make Overlake Hospital the excellent medical facility it is today. My family and I are forever grateful!

Tara Johnson